At last, auto fares fixed in Chennai

The State government on Sunday unveiled a new tariff structure for auto rickshaws. The new fare structure came into force on Sunday, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said in a release.

The government has fixed the minimum fare at Rs 25 for the first 1.8km and Rs 12/km for every additional kilometre. The fare between 11 pm and 5 am will be 50 per cent higher than the daytime fare. The government has also fixed waiting charges at Rs 3.50 for every five minutes and Rs 42 per hour.

In a statement issued revising the tariff for auto rickshaws, Jayalalithaa said: “For the first time in India, auto rickshaws plying in Chennai will be fitted with GPS and electronic digital printer, free of cost, by the government, involving an outlay of Rs 80 crore.”

She said the travelling public will be given a receipt with the distance travelled and the tariff rate.

The government notification said the fares would come into force immediately, but added that drivers would be given time till September 15 to collect rate cards from the regional transport offices.